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Bugbee's Popular Plays 

Tke Midgets' 
Grand Parade 

An Entertainment For liny lots 

by 
WILLIS N. BUGBEE 

Author of " Coonville 'Ristocrat Club," " Uncle 
Si and the Sunbeam Club," "Jolly Dialogues," 
" Humorous Homespun Dialogues," etc., etc. 



Copyright 1916 by Willis N. Bugbee 



THE WILLIS N. BUGBEE CO. 
SYRACUSE, N. Y. 






THE MIDGETS' GRAND PARADE. 

Characters. 

One small boy ) , ^ j 

One small girl ^ «^ bystanders. 

Alore of each if desired. 

Mayor ) , • w ^ j 

Selectmen (3) S ^^o review the parade. 

People in Parade. 

Policemen ) , , 

Band S -^ ««'«^^^- 

Blacksmith 

Miller. 

Farmer John. 

Grocer, 

Doctor Bones 

Milliner. 

Dressmaker. 

Washwoman (colored). 

Housewife 

Schoolma'am. 

Dairymaids. \ 

Suffragettes. \ ,, t x l 

17- r Any number of each. 

l<iremen. ( -^ ' 

Haymakers. 
Others as desired 



fl J-, ''i '^ 



i 



SEP 14 1916 



»CI.D 44947 



The Midgets' Grand Parade. 3 

COSTUMES. 
Small Children. Ordinary clothes. 

Mayor and Selectmen. Long black coats, white shirts, 
standing collars, silk hats, canes. 

Policemen. Ordinarj^ uniform. 

Band Boys. Any tasty uniforms. 

Firemen. Black rubber coats and hats. 

Blacksmith. Red flannel wrapper with short sleeves, 
leather apron, small cap. 

Miller. White apron, white pants, and white cap. 

Grocer. Large white apron, small cap. 

Farmer John and Haymakers. Frocks or common work 
shirts, overalls, boots, straw hats. 

Doctor Bones. Long coat, high hat, and carries cane. 

Milliner and Dressmaker. Neat plain dresses and small 
white aprons. 

Housewife. Large apron and dusting cap. 

Washwoman. Cheap calico dress with skirt turned up at 
bottom and sleeves rolled to elbows. 

Schoolma'am. Neat plain dress, small white apron, shirred 
lace cap, glasses. 

Dairymaids. Light summer gowns and bonnets, or broad 
straw hats. 

Suffragettes. Masculine appearing clothes with large 
badges showing the suffragette colors. 



4 The Midgets' Grand Parade. 

SUGGESTED FLOATS. 

This pleasing entertainment for little children may be pre- 
sented either indoors or out of doors. In the latter case it 
might be called " The Children's Carnival." In such case the 
following floats are suggestive: 

1. Queen of the Carnival. A pretty little girl, vv^ear- 
ing a gauzy white dress and crown, is seated in a flower- 
bedecked cart beneath a canopy of real or artificial flowers. 

2. The Doll's Party. A cart decorated with flowers, 
and bearing dolls in dainty dresses and in various attitudes as 
" at tea," " tete-a-tete," etc. Dolls in costumes of various coun- 
tries may be used. 

3. Uncle Sam. Cart or toy auto, decorated with flags or 
bunting, in which sits a small boy dressed as Uncle Sam. 

4. Jolly Jack Tar. A boat or ship may be easily made 
by bending corrugated board or pasteboard about the sides of 
a cart, fastening the ends together, and covering with white 
cloth or paper. A short pole is placed upright near the front 
of boat to which a small sail is fastened. A little boy in sailor 
costume sits therein. 

Other floats of a general and local character will suggest 
themselves to the director. 

STAGE DIRECTIONS. 

The following abbreviations are used: L., meaning left; 
R., meaning right; C, meaning center. The actor is supposed 
to be facing audience. 

The tune, " The Miller of the Dee," will be found in " Non- 
abel Songster, No. 1," price 10 cents. Address the publishers 
of this book. If desired, other songs appropriate for this enter- 
tainment will be suggested. 



The Midgets' Grand Parade. 5 

THE MIDGETS' GRAND PARADE. 

Scene: The stage should represent an outdoor scene. A 
small platform with a canopy stands at R. front for use of 
Mayor and Selectmen. Flags, bunting, etc., may be used for 
decorations. 

Enter small children, R., very excited. 
Girl {pointing to L.) 

Oh, Johnny, see the grand parade! 
They're coming right this way ! 
Boy. 

My, won't we have a lot of fun ! 
We'll hear the bandmen play. 
Girl. 

Just see them in their pretty clothes — 
Both. 

Oh, don't they all look gay! 
Boy (pointing to audience). 

And look at the folks in the bleachers there ! 
S'pose all of 'em had to pay? 
( They step to L., front and sit upon bench to watch the 
parade. ) 

The music may be furnished by piano or orchestra. 
During the remainder of performance the performers should 
march on stage at L., then turn to audience to recite their lines 
or to perform their parts, then march off at R., as if marching 
in a real parade. 

Enter Mayor and Selectmen. They bow to audience. 
Mayor. 

I am the Mayor of Midget Town. 



6 The Midgets' Grand Parade. 

Selectmen. 

And we're the Selectmen three. 
All. ; . 

We bid you a hearty welcome here, 
Our grand parade to see. 
(They take places on reviewing stand.) 
Enter Policemen, preceded by "Chief," in toy automobile, 
if desired. They may march single or double file. All form 
in line across the center of the stage, facing audience. 
Recitation. 

We are the " finest " of the force — 

The Midget Town police, 
And every day we do our best 
To make folks keep the peace. 
All march to R., thence to L., and then again to R., forming 
in line near the rear. Face audience and advance toward front. 
Drill. 

1. Raise clubs to vertical positions, slightly in front of 
body. Hold during four beats. 

2. With clubs, in same position, turn to L., one step. Four 
beats. 

3. Turn to R., take one step. Four beats. 

4. Place clubs under right arms. Each policeman marches 
about in small individual circle from L. to R., returning to 
position in line. 

5. Reverse clubs to left arms, and march about in small 
circles from R. to L. 

6. Raise clubs to right shoulder, turn with backs to audience, 
and march to center of stage. 

7. Turn to R., and march from stage. 

Enter Band^ with real or toy instruments ?JcA I"'' ^'' '^'•'"^ 



\ 



The Midgets' Grand Parade. 7 

major if desired. They stop to " render a selection." Music 
may be produced off stage. 
(See Float No. \.) 

Enter Blacksmith^ carrying sledge. 
Recitation : 

I am the blacksmith, big and strong, 

Contented and happy, too, 
I work at my forge the whole day long. 
And I'll shoe your horse for you. 
Enter Milliner with fancy hat. 
Recitation : 

I am a dainty milliner, 

I'll make your summer (or winter) hat; 
In a style that's quite becoming. 
For scrawny folks or fat. 
Enter Miller^ carrying small flour or meal sack filled with 
sawdust. 

Recitation : 

I am the jolly miller man, — 
The " Miller of the Dee ;" 
I'll grind your wheat into flour so white 
And fine as it can be. 
Enter Dressmaker^ carrying stylish dress over her arm. 
Recitation : 

I am a modish dressmaker, — 
Just see my latest gown. 
(Displays dress to audience.) 

I make them for the richest folks 
That live in Midget Town. 
(See Float No. 2.) 



8 The Midgets' Grand Parade. 

Enter Farmer John^ carrying hoe to which is attached a 
banner with the words, " Back to Nature/' 
Recitation : 

Reckon 3'ou know old " Farmer John," 

I rise at four each morn. 
An' every day I work till dark 
To raise potatoes and corn. 
Enter Haymakers with short-handled rakes. 
Recitation : 

We are the jolly haymakers, 

We gather in the hay ; 
And when our work is done at night. 
You'll always find us gay. 
(.They take position in line at R.J 
Enter Dairymaids with pails. 
Recitation: 

We are the winsome dairymaids, 

And every morn and night. 
We milk the gentle mooly cows, 
And our pails are alwaj-s bright. 
In the following diagram the lines of crosses at the rear show 
positions of Haymakers and Dairymaids. 

Rear. 

4 3 2 1 

o X XXX 



A 


B 


c 


d 




X 


X 


X 


X.... 


...0 






c 


X.... 


....0 






B 


X.... 


....0 






A 


X.... 


....0 



o X 3 

R. B X o o X 2 

o X 1 

Front. 



The Midgets' Grand Parade. 9 

Dance. 

1. Haymakers (A, B, C, D) and Dairymaids (1, 2, 3, 4) 
swing around to positions facing each other. 

2. Advance to positions indicated by circles, and grasping 
right hands above heads swing about each other. 

3. Couples march down front and pass alternately to R. 
and L. 

4. Partners face each other, clasp hands and swing about. 

5. March around to rear R. to L., and swing about as 
before. 

6. All march off stage at R. 
(See Float No. 3.) 

Enter Grocer^ carrying banner with words " Pure Food." 
Recitation : 

I am the corner grocerjman. 

My goods are fresh and nice ; 
I sell the choicest butter and cheese, 
And sugar and tea and spice. 
Enter Housewife, with broom. 
Recitation : 

I am the housewife, tidy and trim. 

And an anti-suffragette ; 
To make my house look spick and span 
Takes all the time I get. 
Enter Doctor Bones, with medicine case. 
Recitation : 

I am good old Doctor Bones, 

I'll cure your aches and ills; 
With just the nicest medicine, — ' 

Some sugar-coated pills. 
(Shows large round candy balls.) , 



10 The Midgets' Grand Par.4de. 

Enter Schoolma'am^ with book and ruler. 
Recitation : 

I am a schoolma'am, very prim, 

I'm patient and I'm kind; 
The children are quite well behaved, 
And almost always mind. 
Enter Washwoman, with basket of clothes. 
Recitation. 

I am de washerlady, I is, 

I'll wash yo' clothes so clean ; 
I uses lots ob elbow grease, 
But nebber no machine. 
Enter Suffragettes, carrying banners with the words 
" Votes for Women." All face audience. 
Recitation. 

We are the little suffragettes, 

Some day we're going to vote; 
And then we'll run this ship of state — 
So you men folks please take note. 
(Point to men in audience.) 
Drill. 

1. Wave banners from L. to R. in front of body. Continue 
during four or eight beats. 

2. Raise banner above heads and wave L. to R. Continue 
during four or eight beats. 

3. Partners cross banners. Four or eight beats. 

4. Circle around to R. and exeunt. 

(In doing so girls may scatter slips of paper with words 
" Votes for Women " among audience.) 

Enter Fire Brigade. Two boys draw cart containing small 
iron pump and short garden hose. Others carry buckets. 



The Midgets' Grand Parade. 11 

Recitation. 

We are the Midget Fire Brigade, 

No braver lads you'll find ; 
We climb to tops of highest roofs, 
And danger do not mind. 
(The cart is drawn to R. of stage.) 
March and Drill. 

1. Boys with buckets march to front, turn and march to 
L. ; to rear ; to R. 

2. Advance toward front, forming line from front to rear. 
Turn to L. 

3. Rush toward L., imitating throwing water on fire. 

4. Turn about and march quickly to cart and drop buckets. 

5. Seize hose, two boys on each side, and drag it toward 
L., holding it as if throwing water on fire. Meanwhile boy 
at cart pumps vigorously. 

6. All turn and march from stage, two boys drawing cart 
and others holding hose and gathering buckets on the way. 

All or part of the parade may now march back upon stage, 
grouping themselves so that tradespeople appear near the front. 
All sing to the tune of " The Miller of the Dee." 

We're busy folks from Midget Town, 

As you can plainly see, 
And all the day we work away 

As busy as can be. 
Each day brings labor sweet for us, 

Some pleasant task to do. 
And while we work we sing a song 

As now we sing to you. 



12 The Midgets' Grand Parade. 

" Hard work kills less than worry does," 

Is our motto every day, 
So when we've any " worriments," 

We sing them all away. 
Now, wouldn't you like to live with us, 

And real enjoyment find, 
Where troubles and cares of grown-up land 
Would all be left behind. 
Medley. 

At the end of each stanza the air may be repeated while a 
medley is presented. The washwoman rubs clothes ; the 
farmers mow or rake hay; the doctor examines grocer's pulse, 
lungs, etc. ; miller turns crank ; firemen pump, hold hose, etc. ; 
diarymaids churn; housewife sweeps; dressmaker fits dress; 
milliner tries hat on customer, etc. The boys may whistle the 
tune as they work. 



Other tradespeople may be introduced and other songs and 
specialties used, also any banners or slogans that may be desired. 

Curtain. 



TWO DECIDED NOVELTIES 

for the Primary Children 

THE MIDGETS' GRAND PARADE 

A delightful pageant of little drills, marches, 
songs, and pantomimes for the tiny tots. Intro- 
duces Mayor, Selectmen, Band, Firemen, Trades- 
people, Suffragettes, etc., of Midget Town, all in 
characteristic costume. Time, 30 min. 25 cents. 

THE FUNNY LITTLE FOOD FOLKS 

A novelty entertainment for children. For five 
boys and four girls or more. Prof. Heideldorfer 
gives his lecture on pure foods and the Funny 
Little Food Folks appear unexpectedly and give 
amusing songs. Easy to get up. Nothing like it 
on the market. Time, about 30 min. 25 cents. 

THE WILLIS N. BUGBEE CO. 
SYRACUSE, N. Y. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



017 400 513 8 # 



